Knepper said this year's discovery is several weeks earlier
than average. Most discoveries occur in late July.

Knepper said a wild turkey found in the state tested
positive for the disease as well. He could not recall where the bird was found.

West Nile Virus is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes that
affects humans, birds and various mammals. In humans it can cause high fever, confusion, muscle weakness, severe headache and
brain swelling, according to Michigan.gov. There is no cure for the disease. It
generally clears up in a few days, but in certain cases, it can be deadly.

Cases of West Nile Virus have been discovered in Michigan
every year since the disease first made an appearance in the state in 2001,
according to Michigan.gov.

From what he gathered, Knepper said the early spike in
temperatures most likely quickened the appearance of the disease. Increases in temperature
cause the viremia, or the concentration of the disease within a mosquito, to
surge.

"We're probably five weeks earlier than last year," he said.
"Everything has been early this year. We had that warm weather in March, and that
caused a lot of things to happen earlier.

"The mosquito population has been normal, but when you have
the warm weather, you have the increased amount of viremia."

Knepper said it is not unusual for the first confirmations
in Michigan to come out of the Great Lakes Bay Region.

"There are two things you have to realize: In Saginaw we
look for it, and most counties don't," he said. "It's not that we're a hotbed.
If you look back, a lot of the first positive tests are in Saginaw and Bay
counties because we look for it.

"Later in the summer, when you have human cases, they're in
Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties because they don't test for it."

Knepper said people should not be fearful of the disease but
should take precautions such as using insect repellant when outside,
especially during extended periods of outdoor activity and in the presence of
mosquitos.

Certain birds frequently are affected by the disease.
Knepper recommends reporting dead crows and bluejays to the commission quickly
so it can have the animals tested.